my mom was a home economic teacher. when she taught my girls, she started with lines on paper and no thread in the needle, then progressed to squiggly lines with no thread, then thread to make designs. The straight seaming things. Pj bottoms are a favorite, though you'll probably have to help with cutting out and elastic. let them pick out the fabric. The thing with the pj's is that they have a big brag factor with other kids, which reinforces the desire to keep sewing. also teach them how to thread a needle and do a sewing knot ( dampen finger, wrap thread around 3-4 times and roll with your fingers)